Where would we be without the mothers of the world?

To illustrate a life’s journey.  To breathe in our sweetness. And behold our infinite innocence.

What a rare and sacred privilege, to look into a set of eyes and see nothing but wonder.

And possibility.

And ferocious love.

It lives in every mother in every photograph I’ve ever taken.

Not because it was a fleeting moment captured.

But because it is always there.

Unapologetic, consuming, insatiable love.

To all the mothers who’ve shared such tender moments with me and my camera.

Thank you.

The day I watched someone become a mother was nothing short of incredible.

To all of the mothers in my life – thank you.

Happy Mother’s Day.

Top (Grandma Betty June and Ma-in-law White)

Center (My mom and Grandma Ida)

Bottom (My sister Candace and my second mom)

xoxoxo

I would like to take a brief moment of your time today to introduce you to a special lady named Nunu. She is currently available for adoption at the New Rochelle Humane Society. Before you squint and squirm around and think to yourself “Oh God, I can’t read these things – the guilt is too much!” – just hear me out. I get it. It’s hard to look at. It’s hard to think about. It’s difficult to accept that shelters everywhere are filled with dogs in need. Some get adopted, some stick around, and some don’t make it.

Nunu is not in a kill shelter. She has a great chance at finding love. But I need your help.

She deserves at least 3 minutes of your internet grazing time. Pull up a chair, give it a read, or a skim, or just look at the pictures. Maybe when you’re done you could share it on Facebook. Maybe you wanna take this thing old school and email the link to your nicest friends. Maybe you’re recapping the weekend with your coworkers at the water cooler and you find the perfect segue into Nunu’s plight. “Speaking of military scandals, you’re not allergic to dogs are you?” I don’t know. I’m not you. But I hope this little entry doesn’t stop at your screen. That’s all I’m sayin’.

Let’s begin with the facts. Nunu is about 2 years old. She is an American Pit Bull, which means in a past life she was a nanny. True story. She is house-trained, leash-trained and downright gorgeous. Alright, technically her gorgeousness is an opinion. She loves to play fetch, which means the two of you will always have something fun to do together. She is fantastic with kids, which means she would love to be part of a family, big or small. It also means that when people see you walking down the street with a pit bull, you can say disarming things like “It’s okay, she looks tough, but she wouldn’t hurt a fly” or “Don’t worry, I like my dogs like I like my candy bars: brown on the outside with a creamy nougat center.“

Now on to my personal observations…
Nunu is as soft as my childhood teddy bear, sweet as pie and as smart as they come. She picks up on training cues very quickly and she has splendid social skills. We took her for a group walk at the shelter and she was such a lady around the other dogs. She politely sniffed noses (and other regions) with the pack and never once barked or expressed dominance. She is calm and cool as a cucumber. One person in our class said she had swagger. She doesn’t have to try very hard. Her coolness is innate.

If there is one thing we at the shelter all know about Nunu, it’s that she is very passionate about tennis balls. What this tells me is that she has a genuine interest in interacting with her human friends. She has a hobby. She’s active and healthy. She is a gal pal.

Proof of her ease with children. This here is one of Nunu’s fetching partners!

Her fetching abilities also tell me that she will be very easy to train and exercise. She could also be a great agility trainee!

If you give her the opportunity, she will drop that ball right at your feet and look deeply into your eyes.

Throw. It. For. The. Love. Of. God.

Nunu’s utopia

One of my favorite things about Nunu is her beautiful cocoa fur coat. When the light reflects off of it and wraps around the ripples of her furrowed brow, she looks like she’s made of pure velvet. Her ears are cropped into little kitty points. Her smile is wide and free.

And she gives great little kisses.

I saved the best for last. This is my favorite picture of Nunu because it captures the essence of her personality so well.

Happy, healthy and head-over-heels for YOU.

That’s Nunu in a nutshell.

If you would like to adopt Nunu, please visit the New Rochelle Humane Society in person, online or by phone at (914) 632-2925.

Start your week off with a heaping spoonful of good karma by sharing Nunu’s story, visiting your local shelter or adopting a dog in need.

A little over four months ago, I watched a brand new person, fill their brand new lungs, on their brand new birthday. It was May 21^st, my goddaughter’s birthday.  She was born an impeccable package of ten fingers, ten toes and the most adorable head of dark curls. My heart swelled and stretched and filled my chest. Before the day was done, I cried at least four tablespoons of perfectly joyful tears.

That experience changed the way I look at strangers. I remember flying back to New York just hours after she entered the world. I looked around the airport and instead of seeing weary travelers, I saw babies. Everyone, at one time, was small and marvelous. Everyone had tiny, dimpled hands. Everyone  smelled sweet and new.

I have seen and done some incredible things.  I floated along the waterways of Venice. I’ve snaked through canyons and scaled peaks. I have seen a bear in the wild. Twice. But watching Kavitha be born trumps them all.

It’s high time I introduce you to my goddaughter. Knowing her and watching her grow is a gift.

To Kavi’s amazing parents…

Thank you for being you.

Thank you for making her.

Thank you for picking me.

xoxo

Heather

Allow me to introduce you to a very special lady.

Fanny Maye is a velveteen rabbit. A blue coated wonder. A sweet mama bear. 

 She’s not people shy. But she’s very camera shy.

As John put it, she thinks of the camera as one big eye.

In the animal world, it would be very rude to go around staring at fellow creatures with your big, menacing eye.

I’ve never thought of my camera this way before, but I like to now. It’s a good reminder for a photographer.

To de-emphasize this hunk of glass and plastic.  To connect and reconnect with your subject, apart from the lens.

Fanny taught me a lesson about my giant eye.

Dogs are the best teachers.

They show us how to be content.

How to relax.

I mean, really relax.

 How to enjoy the shade on a hot day.

How to hang with new friends. Even the cyclopse kind.

How to stay curious.

How to laugh.

How to let it all hang out.

And try new things.

Aside from being gorgeous, funny and smart (triple threat!), Fanny is incredibly loyal. In the short time I spent with her, it became clear that this dog has strong bonds with the people who care for her. She is the kind of dog who will watch you leave for work from the window and wait for you by the door when you get home. She will think about you when you’re not together and she’ll be right by your side when you are.

She’s true blue.

How can you not love a face like this?

Fanny has gorgeous markings on her chest.

Like two lungs.

I think I’m in love with you, Fanny.

I love your golden lion’s eyes.

I love your perfect gray nose.

It reminds me of a dolphin’s wet, slippery skin.

I love your pitt grin.

And your wide pitt stance.

Your velvety blue ears are the 8th wonder of the world.

I love your butt cowlicks.

And those snow capped toes.

There’s so much to love about Fanny Maye.

If you would like to adopt Fanny, please visit the New Rochelle Humane Society in person, online or by phone at (914) 632-2925.

I love happy endings. If you adopt Fanny, please let me know so we can share the GREAT news with a world that could use more great news.

Do Fanny a solid and share this with all your fellow dog lovers, do gooders and friends.

xo

Heather

Guess what I did yesterday?

YOGA! Smack dab in the middle of Times Square!

These are just some snaps with my iphone, but if you’re intrigued, you must check out some of the amazing professional images from this event. Thousands of people came, adorned in bright lycra, armed with rolled mats like a brigade of pony-tailed soldiers. Oh, was it a sweaty mass, my friends. Very sweaty. This all-day event in the name of the Summer Solstice took place on (of course) the hottest day of the year.

I marveled as I moved through the poses, watching thousands of arms rising up with mine, backs bending into a sea of rounded spines, finding some form of calm in a throng of people, in a pit of towering steel and the relentless buzz of the city. The constant murmur of crowds, taxi horns, sirens, the rumbling of the subway underneath, melded in a strange and wonderful cacophony.  

There were some terrific people watching opportunities, from the beautiful array of body shapes to the hilarious wall of onlookers, photographing us from every angle. Don’t get me wrong, it was exhilarating and super fun. But it’s safe to say that a family of tourists from Missouri has a gloriously unflattering photo of me on the asphalt in happy baby pose.

Namaste, y’all!

I’m back, baby!  It’s been over 6 months since Shelter Shots was a routine part of my week and I’ve missed it dearly. Moving from NC to NY has been filled with exciting new experiences, but volunteering at my local shelter makes me truly feel at home in my new community. Thanks to the friendly staff and volunteer team at the New Rochelle Humane Society for welcoming me with open arms (and paws).

I have a very special someone to introduce you to this week.

Meet Winky

 Winky has burgled my heart in the best way. He’s one of the sweetest little guys I’ve met in a while and he has such an amazing story.

I’m going to give it to you straight up, so stay with me. Winky was found tied to a telephone pole with a bag of food nearby. He was just a wee babe. He was neglected and injured. His injuries included an infection in his right eye. Thankfully he found his way through the open doors of the New Rochelle Humane Society, where he was given the medical and emotional attention he needed. The infection in Winky’s eye led to surgery and ultimately, the loss of his right eye.

Amazingly, these harsh experiences haven’t slowed him down a bit! His naturally playful demeanor is alive and intact, as is his loving spirit.  

Winky is exuberant, full of life and so very ready to love his new family.

Winky thrives in a stimulating environment and loves to interact with people. He went bananas for the toys I gave him in the shelter’s enclosed obstacle course. Yeah, I said obstacle course. This place is amazing – and I can’t wait to share more about the shelter in another post.  Winky is fearless and whip smart. He knows how to run through the tunnel, scale the ramp and he even knows sit and shake commands. He absolutely loves to play tug-of-war, which is such a great way to play and bond with your dog.

Athletics aside, have you seen his hilarious pile of ears? I just love that about pit mixes. 

This guy cracks me up.  

Winky has so many unique features that make him stand out from the pack, from his sweet orange spots to the perfect little dots under his eye. There’s no doubt he’s a cute puppy, but he’s going to grow into such a handsome dog.

As a youngster, Winky will need consistency when it comes to training. But the great news is that he’s already housebroken and as you’ll read in his online profile, he’s even enrolled in puppy training at the shelter. This boy is very trainable, and if you like an active dog, who can play fetch, go to the dog park, jog, swim and keep you away from the temptations of a sedentary lifestyle, then Winky is your man.  On top of all that, he’s great with kids and cats!

Oh, and did I mention that Winky is famous? Check out his feature on New York Live!

Winky would be a wonderful addition to any home because at the end of the day, he is an affectionate dog who loves to be with people. By the end of our photoshoot/playtime session, Winky and I were smitten. He wrapped his paws around my arm, as if claiming me as his own. His sincere gaze and his pile of ears will undoubtedly melt your heart.  

If you or someone you know would like to adopt Winky, please visit the New Rochelle Humane Society in person, online or by phone at (914) 632-2925.

I love happy endings. If you adopt Winky or know someone who did, please let me know so we can share the GREAT news with a world that could use more great news.

Last month I flew back to my old home in the sweet smellin’ south to photograph a beautiful wedding for my new friends, Charliss and Tyler.
It turned out to be quite the weekend of emotional events and very fortunate timing. After months of waiting in NY, hoping and praying that the stars would align, my amazing little goddaughter was born the very next day, right before my eyes. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect.

Speaking of perfect, Charliss and Tyler’s wedding took place on a gorgeous Spring afternoon at the tranquil Pine Lake Pavilion in North Carolina. Here are a few peeks at the moments leading up to and after their lovely lakeside affair.

Many more from this gorgeous Southern affair to come soon!

xoxo